Pre-Holiday BBQ

This morning, a reader sent in this photo of a burnt out SUV on 45th Street between 4th and 5th. It's one of the messier burnt out cars I've seen. More insurance troubles? Or was it a theft this time? Either way, my theory as to location has to do with subway proximity. While some people have getaway cars, others are torching their means of transportation.

Burned Out Van in Sunset Park

Kind of gutsy, I think. The torcher chose to do the deed right on the corner of 4th Avenue and 44th Street. It happened on Tuesday night (5/27/08). The last time I saw a car this burned out in the immediate neighborhood was on 6th Avenue between 44th and 45th; that was early last year, I think. That's even more residential. This poor van still has its garden tools and the remains of potting soil in the back.
Some kids on the street were excited about watching the flames leap into the sky from their windows, and the fire trucks that showed up were pretty exciting, too.